Glazing assembly



April 22, 1958 G. J. POLLOCK GLAZING ASSEMBLY FiledDec. 20, 1955 VINVENTOR. GORD N J. POL. LOC K A TTO/ZNEZS.

United GLAZING ASSEMBLY Application December 20, 1955, Serial No.554,282

2 Claims. .(Cl. 189-77) This invention relates to improvements in theart of glazing and, more particularly, to a glazing assembly which iseminently suited for use in panel walls constructed of movablepartitions.

Panel walls of this type are distinguished not only by the ease withwhich they maybe erected, but also by their flexibility with respect torelocation, for example, to keep pace with and suit best changing spacerequirements. A wall to be relocated often includes glass areas, such asordinary windows, which prove inappropriate or even objectionable in thenew position of the Wall. In such cases, the glass must or desirablyshould be replaced with sheet metal inserts, or other similar elements,or it may be desired to substitute a different type of glass, forexample, to replace previously used transparent glass with a translucentpane. All such changes, as well as the obvious replacement of brokenglass, require an original pane to be removed from its frame and thus aglazing assembly which permits this to be done conveniently would bemost advantageous.

Accordingly, in addition to providing a glazing assembly which permitsthe glass to be installed quickly and conveniently, it is an importantobject of my invention to provide such an assembly which affords as welleasy removal and substitution of the nature discussed, or for any otherreason.

Another object is to provide a glazing assembly comprised of inexpensiveand readily fabricated preformed elements of such nature as to serve theabove functions and thereby enhance the flexibility of panel walls andthe like in which it may be used.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an upper corner of aWindow mounted in panel wall structure in accordance with the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower corner of the window at the sameside thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the glazing elements employed inthe new assembly;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the bottom edge ofthe glass pane;

Fig. 5 is a like sectional view taken along the top edge of the pane;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of one of the glazing elements used atthe side edges of the window;

Patent Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one of such side edges illustratingthe manner in which this last-mentioned element is employed; and

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Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the molding and head assembly formingthe top of the window frame.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will first be understood thatpanels 10 and 11 are components of a movable partition of conventionalconstruction, and that a similarly formed partition is arranged inspaced relation at what would be the other side of the intended windowarea. in the particular embodiment illustrated, the lower region of thespace between the panels, arranged, of course, in aligned relation, isclosed by laterally spaced panel elements 12 and 13 having inwardlydirected flanges 14 and 15 respectively at their upper edges.

Supported on such flanges is a sill member 16 having upwardly slopingwalls 17 and a longitudinal off-set formed centrally in its upper wallto define a groove 18 of generally rectangular cross-section. A stileelement 19, likewise having a longitudinal ofi-set centrally thereof isdisposed between the partition panels 10 and 11 at each side and extendsupwardly from the region of flanges 14 and 15 of the middle panels. Asillustrated, the thusformed grooves 2b in the stiles are somewhat deeperthan the bottom groove for added clearance.

At the top of the windowarea and extending between the spaced partitionsthere is a molding in the form of a downwardly open channel 2i havingrelatively small inwardly directed flanges 22 along its edges. A headmember 23 shaped to a crosssection somewhat similar to that of the sillbut having outwardly oti-setedges 24 is disposed partially within thechannel 21 with such edges thereof overlying the top surfaces of thechannel flanges 22. Adequate clearance between these two members isprovided to permit the head to be moved vertically within the channel,and U shaped spring clips, one of which is shown at 25, are arrangedwithin the molding in suitable spacedapart relation to maintain the headresiliently in either a retracted or lowered operative position. Eachsuch spring clip has inwardly bowedsections 26 which normally overliethe extreme edges of the head 23 as shown most clearly in Fig. 8,thereby to maintain the same in its lowermost position. Upon raising ofthe head within the molding, the vertically extending head margins passover spring sections 26, and the off-set edges 24. of the head becomeseated on such sections to afford a positive holding of the head in suchelevated condition. The clips are preferably formed with the legportions thereof divergent, so that the contraction resulting fromcontainment within the molding serves to hold the clips in place.

The head extends from one stile member to the other at the opposite sideand has a groove 27 formed therein in the same manner as in the sill.The stiles, sill and head thus define a frame having grooves lying inthe same plane and adapted to receive the respective edges of a pane ofglass.

The pane 23 is secured at its lower edge within the sill groove orchannel 18 by means of the glazing element 29 shown most clearly in Fig.3. Such element is. in the form of a preformed channel strip havingoutwardly extending and somewhat bevelled flanges 30 at its respectivelongitudinal edges and a number of integral fins 31 at each outer sideof its body portion. Thefins 31 like Wise extend over the length of thestrip, and they have a normal inclination toward the flange or open faceof the strip. The strip is made of a resiliently deformable material,such as an elastomeric or suitable synthetic resin material, andpreferably one of the latter type which is characterized by its absenceof deterioration with age. As a more specific example, a polymer ofvinyl chloride, such as sold under the trade name Geon, is well-suitedfor the purpose.

As will be evident from Fig. 4, the bottom strip 29 is dimensioned suchthat its over-all normal width is greater than the width of sill groove,whereby the relatively thin side fins 31 are deformed outwardly in theassembly. The strip thus functions resiliently to grip the bottom edgeof the pane within the sill.

An identical strip 29 serves in the same manner to secure the top edgeof the pane within the head groove or channel 27.

For reasons which will appear below, a slightly different form ofglazing element, indicated at 32, is used at the respective side edgesof the pane received within the stile grooves 20. Such further element,shown separately in Fig. 6, comprises a body portion 33 having alongitudinal flange 34, substantially at right angles, and fins 35projecting to the same side as such flange. As in the first-describedglazing element, this strip is made of resiliently deformable materialand the fins are normally inclined toward the flanged edge. There is asmall, oppositely extending flange 36 at the other longitudinal edge ofthe strip, and it will be seen that each element 32 is approximately alongitudinal half section of the channelform glazing element 29.Accordingly, the former may be fabricated to its final illustrated formor had by cutting of spare elements 29.

Two strips 32 are employed at each stile, in the manner shown mostclearly in Fig. 7, with one disposed between each side of the pane andthe respectively adjacent groove wall. Once again, the transversedimensions of the elements are so related as to provide deformation ofthe fins 35, and the desired resilient gripping of the pane edges.

The ease with which my new glazing assembly permits the glass to beinstalled will be evident from the preferred procedure of installationwhich is as follows. The top and bottom glazing elements or channels 29and 2.9 are first applied to the top and bottom edges of the glass pane,before setting the glass in the window opening. The movable head 23 israised within the molding 21 and the bottom edge of the pane, with theelement 29, is inserted in the sill groove 18, after centering of thepane between stiles 19 so that approximately the same insertion in thelatter obtains at both sides. The head is then moved down tightly overthe top glazing channel and pane edge, and thereafter the stile glazingstrips 32 are inserted. The latter are most conveniently placed byforcing each strip, cut to proper length, inwardly first at the top andbottom and then progressively towards the center.

It will be noted that the normal inclination of the fins of the severalglazing strips is outward, and that the deformation is in the samegeneral direction. This facilitates insertion within the frame membergrooves and provides the desired resistance to withdrawal of the paneedges, without, however, making the latter operation impossible orimpracticable. To remove the pane for replacement or any reason, theprocedure set forth above would be substantially reversed, bothinsertion and removal being greatly facilitated by the head adjustmentprovided.

The preformed glazing elements disclosed may be readily fabricated byconventional methods and may be of varying flexibility, although anextremely flexible element is less convenient to handle. Such elementsare very easily cut to the desired lengths in any given installation,and the whole assembly will be seen to afford an exceedingly simple andquick glazing operation.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. in an assembly of the character described, a pair of elongatedpanel-framing members arranged and rigidly maintained in spaced-apartparallel relation, said members being so formed as to definelongitudinal channels at their opposed faces, a panel insert havingopposite edges respectively received in the channels of said members,the thickness of said insert being less than the width of the channelsand the extent of the insert between such edges thereof being less thanthe distance from one channel bottom to the other, th clearance thusprovided being adequate for withdrawal of the insert by moving the sameinto the channel of one framing member sufficiently to free it from theother member and then withdrawing it from such one member at an angle toclear the other, and two strips of resiliently deformable materiallocating and maintaining each such insert edge within its channel inspaced relation to the walls and bottom thereof, said strips having bodyportions and oppositely directed flanges respectively at theirlongitudinal edges, each strip being disposed between a side of theinsert and the adjacent channel wall with one flange overlying the outeredge of such Wall and the other engaged about the edge of the insert inthe channel, the body portion of each strip contacting the insert sideand having a plurality of outwardly directed integral fins deformedagainst the channel wall, said strips by virtue of such resilientdeformation normally holding the panel insert edges firmly in theframing members and being removable whereupon the insert is withdrawablefrom the assembly as aforesaid.

2. In an assembly of the character described, a rigid generallyrectangular frame one side of which is provided an adjustable innersection adapted to be moved in and out to vary the distance between thesame and the frame side opposite thereto, the frame having a continuousgroove at its inner periphery, defined at such one side by saidadjustable section, a panel removably inserted in said frame with itsmargins received in such groove, the frame and groove being of suchdimensions relative to said panel that the latter is thus inserted withthe adjustable section of the frame in its outward position by'angularly directing a panel edge into the groove at a side contiguousto such section and then after swinging the panel into the plane of thegroove shifting the same edgewise into the groove at the opposite frameside, positioning of the members being completed by moving the panelinto the groove at the side opposed to the adjustable sectionandradjusting the latter inwardly to embrace the remaining panel margin,and a pair of resiliently deformable strips releasably anchoring each ofthe two panel margins at the frame sides adjacent the movable section,each such strip having an outer longitudinal flange, a body portionformed with plural fins projecting at one side at an angletoward saidouter flange, and an oppo sitely directed inner longitudinal flange, thetwo strips at each panel margin to be anchored thereby being disposed atthe respective sides of such margin between the same and the adjacentgroove walls with their inner flanges engaged about the enclosed paneledge and their outer flanges overlying the frame to either of thegroove, the combined thickness of such panel edge and associated stripassembly being greater than the Width of the groove so that the fins ofthe strips are deformed upon placement of the strips in the framegroove, thereby to hold such parts resiliently in the desired assembledrelation, said strips being removable from the frame for withdrawal ofthe panel by reversing the aforesaid a justments for insertion.

Gall Feb. 2, 1954 Wooten May 3, 1955

